Bill > HB413

This bill revises Montana's election laws regarding how residency is determined for voting and election purposes, with a specific focus on temporary residents. The bill amends existing law to clarify that individuals who relocate to Montana for temporary purposes such as work, training, or educational programs do not automatically gain residency in the state or county if they do not intend to make it their permanent home after completing their temporary assignment. The bill maintains existing provisions that protect certain groups from losing or gaining residency, such as military personnel stationed at a location involuntarily or those confined in public institutions. Key changes include explicitly stating that temporary relocation for work, training, or education does not constitute residency, and reinforcing that residency is determined by an individual's intention to make a place their permanent home. The bill emphasizes that a person's residence is where they have fixed habitation and to which they intend to return when absent, and that changing residence requires both physical removal and the intent to remain in a new location. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1459